Civil police officer Felipe Monteiro Marques, 46, died on Sunday (17) after 14 months hospitalized following a rifle shot to the head. Marques was a pilot with the Airpolice Service of the Special Resources Coordination (Core) of Rio de Janeiro's Civil Police. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O piloto e policial civil Felipe Monteiro Marques morreu neste domingo (17) aos 46 anos, após mais de 14 meses de internação e batalha contra as sequelas de um tiro de fuzil na cabeça."
The officer was shot on March 20, 2025, while flying over the Vila Aliança community in Bangu, west Rio, during a Core operation. Criminals targeted the helicopter and a rifle projectile hit Marques in the forehead region, piercing his skull. The projectile lost velocity when it collided with the aircraft before hitting the pilot, becoming lodged in his head. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O ataque que vitimou Felipe ocorreu em 20 de março do ano passado, quando o piloto sobrevoava a comunidade Vila Aliança, em Bangu, na zona oeste do Rio de Janeiro, a bordo de um helicóptero do Serviço Aeropolicial da Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais (Core)."
"A aeronave foi alvejada por criminosos e o agente foi atingido por um tiro de fuzil na região da testa, que perfurou o crânio. Antes de perfurar a testa do policial, a bala colidiu com a aeronave e perdeu velocidade, acabando por ficar alojada na cabeça de Felipe."
According to Conexão Política, the shot destroyed approximately 40% of Marques' skull. During 14 months of hospitalization, he underwent multiple neurological surgeries, including a cranioplasty in September to reconstruct his skull, faced severe infections and required multiple blood transfusions. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O disparo provocou a destruição de aproximadamente 40% do crânio dele. Felipe Marques enfrentou uma verdadeira batalha pela vida nos últimos meses. Ele passou por diversas cirurgias, foi acometido por uma série de infecções graves e precisou receber várias transfusões de sangue."
The death was announced by family on social media two days after his wife, Keidna Marques, reported a new deterioration in his health caused by infection. Investigations indicated that the Vila Aliança drug trafficking chief, José Gonçalves Silva, known as 'Sabão,' had ordered the shots against the aircraft. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Após meses de recuperação, Felipe Marques teve uma grave piora no quadro de saúde na sexta-feira (15). Em comunicado publicado nas redes sociais, a esposa do policial informou que ele passou a receber medicações mais fortes para estabilização clínica."
"Investigações apontaram que o chefe do tráfico de drogas da Vila Aliança, José Gonçalves Silva, o "Sabão", teria ordenado disparos contra a aeronave durante a operação policial."
Felipe Monteiro Marques was a 46-year-old civil police officer and Core pilot
The incident occurred on March 20, 2025, in Vila Aliança, Bangu
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
The projectile destroyed approximately 40% of Felipe's skull
José Gonçalves Silva, known as 'Sabão,' allegedly ordered the shots
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What is the status of the investigation into José Gonçalves Silva, known as 'Sabão'?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention that investigations pointed to Silva as responsible for ordering the shots, but don't report whether there was an arrest, charges, or legal proceedings.
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What was the specific nature of the Core operation in Vila Aliança?
Why it's still unknown: Outlets don't detail the objective or context of the police operation that was underway when the helicopter was targeted.
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Were other police officers injured in the incident?
Why it's still unknown: Reports focus exclusively on Felipe Marques, without mentioning if there were other occupants in the aircraft or if they were hit.